An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a cartridge attached to the main body. The cartridge includes: a casing extending in a longitudinal direction; a photosensitive drum extending in the longitudinal direction; and a separating member that is detachably attached to the casing. The photosensitive drum has a peripheral surface and is positioned in confrontation with the endless belt as a result of attachment of the cartridge to the main body. The separating member is attached to the casing and separates the photosensitive drum from the endless belt when the main body is packaged while the cartridge is attached to the main body. The separating member includes first and second end portions disposed on both end portions of the casing, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions and is configured to cover the peripheral surface.

The disclosed structure includes a belt-shaped conveying member configured to convey developer. The conveying member includes a partitioning portion, which is a partition for developer contained in a casing with respect to a conveying direction in which the developer is conveyed, wherein, when the developer container is new, a first developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at an upstream side that is upstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction, is larger than a second developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at a downstream side that is downstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction.

Provided is an image forming unit contained in a flexible bag and held to allow a cushion member to absorb shock. The image forming unit includes: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing device including a developing unit that is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by turning around a turning center and coming into contact with the image carrier; and a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer for use in the developing device. The image forming unit also includes a restricting portion that is provided on an outermost portion of the developing device to come into contact with the cushion material so that rotation of the developing device is restricted.

An example of a container is disclosed. The example disclosed herein comprises an impermeable container wall, a container releasing valve, and a gas vessel. The impermeable container wall defines the boundaries of an inner volume of the container. The container releasing valve is installed in the container wall to release gas from the inner volume of the container to the outside of the container. The gas vessel is installed in the inner volume of the container. The gas vessel comprises a gas vessel wall, a pressurized vessel gas, and a gas vessel releasing system. The gas vessel wall defines the boundaries of an inner volume of the gas vessel, wherein the gas vessel wall is impermeable and allows for a pressure difference between the inner volume of the gas vessel and an outer volume of the gas vessel. A pressurized vessel gas is enclosed within the inner volume of the gas vessel. And a gas releasing system is to release a certain quantity of the vessel gas to the inner volume of the gas container.

Provided is an image forming unit contained in a flexible bag and held to allow a cushion member to absorb shock. The image forming unit includes: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing device including a developing unit that is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by turning around a turning center and coming into contact with the image carrier; and a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer for use in the developing device. The image forming unit also includes a restricting portion that is provided on an outermost portion of the developing device to come into contact with the cushion material so that rotation of the developing device is restricted.

A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

A toner case includes a case main body and a cover. The case main body stores a toner. The cover covers a face of the case main body at one end side in a longitudinal direction of the case main body. An inside projection or an inside recess is provided on an inner face of the cover at a position to be touchable from an outside. A number of the inside projection or the inside recess is determined based on a color of the toner stored in the case main body.

A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation includes a flexible container provided with an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer, a frame for accommodating the flexible container and for accommodating the developer to be discharged from the flexible container, and an urging member 21 for urging a developer accommodating bag toward the frame for accommodating the developer accommodating bag 16. By this, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the flexible developer accommodating bag 16.

A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.